By creating a strong network of youth-led civil society organizations (CSOs) across the country, the GNYC hopes to create an environment where youth development can be done collaboratively and sustainably. 

The aim is so that youth can understand and take up the role that in fact they should play in enhancing their own lives, and those of others. Our Motto is “Change begins with YOUth!” and we will be constantly sharing opportunities for you to get on board and be a part of the change! 

The GNYC acknowledges the need for an open-door and grass-roots policy approach to positive youth development and underscores the importance of an enabling environment for active youth engagement in the decision-making process in the spirit of governance defined by Article Thirteen (13) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. 

GNYC has a current membership of over 400 young persons from across Guyana along with over 20 partner organizations, bringing the total membership to approximately 7000 young people. 

GNYC’s programmatic areas/action pillars include Youth in Governance, Youth in the Electoral Process, Youth Advocacy (including National Youth Policy Advocacy) and Fiscal Accountability. GNYC is the local partner of the Caribbean Regional Youth Council (CRYC) as well as the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC). GNYC is registered as a trust under the laws of Guyana.

The Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC) has established a track record for public engagement around participation in electoral processes targeting young people and women in particular. This was achieved through the very successful voter and civic education campaign for the General and Regional Elections held in 2015 (Vote like a Boss – VLAB campaign), which utilised public media products on traditional and emergent (social media) platforms. This campaign was replicated in Bahamas, Papa New Guinea, Belize, Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago among other countries. The council continues to build on the successes and lessons learnt as part of fulfilling its mandate and accomplishing its work plan. Leveraging on the experience in 2015 General and Regional Elections and the 2016 Local Government Elections, conducted a Voter Education and Get out the vote (GOTV) campaigns (Ink it up for the March 2020 General and Regional Elections) with IRI has been able to successfully reach more than 350,000 Guyanese citizens in each case (approximately 40% of the population). This experience has led to valuable lesson in identifying effective outreach methods to engage youth both from urban and rural/ indigenous communities. 

GNYC will seek to build upon this experience and reach Guyanese citizens, particularly youth on the importance of voting, how to vote and generally engage in governance of Guyana. The social media component of the campaign was replicated in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize and Saint Lucia given the COVID-19 context/pandemic.